Contents
Editorial: The Advantages of Distance Learning
p2
The Natural Environment of Gozo
Joe Sultana
p3
Banking in the Gozitan Economy
Carmen Saliba
p8
Of Salmonellae and Salmonella Gozo
Loranne Vella
p 12
An Interview with Ann Monserrat
Maurice Cauchi
p 17
Towards a Strategy for Sustainable Development
in the Maltese Islands with Special Reference to Gozo
Lino Briguglio
p 19
University Gozo Centre Students make their way into the Public Service
Pat Curmi
p 24
Gozitan Artist at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity
Joseph Calleja
p 25
Projects submitted by Certificate in Lace Studies students
various
p 26
Extra-curricular Activities at the University Gozo Centre – 2004
Joseph Calleja
p 28
The Gozo Observer
Issue No 12, March 2005
The Journal of the University of Malta, Gozo Centre
Editors, Prof Maurice N. Cauchi, Mr. Joseph Calleja.
All correspondence is to be addressed to:
University of Malta - Gozo Centre, Mgarr Rd., Xewkija, VCT111, Gozo
e-mail: ugc@um.edu.mt
© University of Malta Gozo Centre and individual contributors. 2004
The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Board of the University of Malta - Gozo Centre.
The Gozo Observer website:
The Gozo Observer can also be viewed on our website at:
http://www.gozo.com/ugc
Printed by Portelli Print - Nadur. Tel: 2155 8232
1
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
Editorial:
The Advantages of Distance Learning
The University of Malta is not vast by
international standards. It hardly
compares with campuses which may have
forty or fifty thousand students – not an
unusual situation in many universities
overseas. What is fairly unique about
Malta University is the rapid increase in
student numbers which has gone up from
about one thousand only a generation ago
to ten thousand students today.
It is not an exaggeration to say that the
result has been little short of chaotic. There
has not been adequate planning for this
relatively massive intake. Nor has there
been a sufficient budget set aside for what
has to be described as one of the most
significant investment in the future of the
country. Moreover, a considerable moiety
of what money was available was spent in
a relatively unproductive way in
providing student stipends. This has
encouraged spending money on cars and
electronic gadgets, but starved the
university of funds for maintenance,
management, books and other essentials.
Lecturer posts have been left vacant, and
those meriting promotion have been left
lingering in their old posts with resulting
deterioration of morale.
As a consequence, standards of teaching
are bound to suffer. One cannot keep
stretching resources forever. One solution
to this problem is the provision of distance
learning. There is no doubt that this
method of reaching the student is costeffective, and can replace most of the
classical forms of teaching, particularly the
lecture theatre, which in any case has been
shown to be archaic and largely
dispensable. Distance learning makes the
best use of lecturers and lecture facilities.
It reduces the need for endless travel to the
university campus. It might even obviate
the need for every student to have his/her
own car and consequent need for a stipend
to support it!
In the case of Gozo this is particularly
relevant. Attending a single lecture may
mean day-long tiring journey, even when
one ignores the vagaries of weather.
Distance learning can overcome most of
these problems, and reduce the needs to
cross the Channel to a very minimum. It is
therefore with satisfaction that one notes
that the Gozo Centre has been at the
forefront in the introduction of this mode
of communication. We can only hope that
it will succeed and its use will increase in
the future.
This is not to say that distance learning can
completely replace all other forms of
communication. There will always be the
need for keeping in touch personally with
a tutor. Practical and clinical tuition
requires the physical presence in a
laboratory, class or hospital setting. It is
also a fact that degrees obtained wholly
through distance learning have somehow
a reduced status in the eyes of many.
However, any reduction in the required
attendance on campus will definitely be a
boom to student teaching in general and
Gozitan students in particular.
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
2
The Natural Environment of Gozo
JOE SULTANA*
Preamble
Topography
The word “Environment” is a frequently
abused one. Several different definitions,
encompassing all that is found on and around
this globe, and affecting man’s life, are
attributed to it. For the purpose of this
presentation, the term “the natural environment
of Gozo” addresses, albeit in a general way, the
biodiversity of the Island: the variety of plant
and animal species together with their various
habitats found in some of the ecologically
important localities in Gozo.
Gozo has a surface area of about 67 sq.km and
a coastline of about 40km. Its highest point at
Ta’ Dbie©i has an altitude of 191m. The
formation of the Maltese Islands is mainly the
result of geotectonic movements, which started
to occur millions of years ago. Tracts of land
collapsed or subsided; others were raised from
the bottom of the sea, and what are known as
faults, in geological terminology, were created
throughout the islands. The principal fault in
Gozo crosses from Ras il-Qala to M©arr ix-Xini.
The topography of Gozo is more complex than
that of the Island of Malta and is
characteristically marked by a number of hilly
plateaux, such as Id-Dabrani, In-Nuffara, and
Ta’ Kuljat, amongst others, formed from upper
Coralline limestone, between which are plains
where erosion has exposed the Globigerina
limestone. The hillsides are covered with clay
slopes, whilst the plains slope down into
several valleys such as Wied il-Qleg˙ja, Wied
il-anaq and Marsalforn Valley.
Some species need a particularly special
habitat, others have adapted to live and grow
in a diversity of habitats. The Giant Fennel
Ferula communis grows profusely in rocky areas
as well as in disturbed ground. But the Sea
Daffodil Pancratium maritimum is found
growing only on sand dunes. The latter is a
very scarce habitat and the species, which are
only adapted to grow in it, are consequently
localised, restricted and rare. Habitats provide
an adequate place for one or a group of living
organisms, to multiply, and to find food and
shelter. The status of a habitat is always a
decisive factor for the health or otherwise of
the population of a species which is adapted
to it. A special habitat is usually considered as
an ecological site and a site of special scientific
importance.
An ecological site is a place which provides a
good habitat, or better still a diversity of
habitats. These in turn provide food and
shelter to a species or a number of species. Ta’
Çenç area and its surroundings is a fine
example of an ecological site. Here one finds
garigue and steppe areas, rocky rain-water
pools, and cliffs. Such a healthy diversity of
adequate habitats, which provide food, shelter,
protection, nesting sites and other necessities,
is synonymous with a biodiversity enriched
with a healthy number species.
*Joe Sultana ornithologist and nature conservationist, ended his
government services as Principal Environment Officer and is
presently Chairman of the Ornis Committee
3
Gozo’s coastline is less spoilt than that of
mainland Malta. 14.5% of the coastline is
composed of screes and 62.0% of cliffs. Less
than 7.5% of the coastline is obscured by
development such at Marsalforn Bay and
M©arr Harbour, while 74% is inaccessible from
land. This inaccessible part provides good
habitat, as well as some protection, to a variety
of flora and fauna species. Here one finds sites
of ecological importance, supporting habitat
types, which are rare in the Maltese Islands,
and where endemic and/or rare species are
found.
The Flora
Coastal cliff communities are mainly located
on the south, southwest and west coasts of
Gozo. There are many plant taxa here
including two, the Maltese Cliff-Orache
Cremnophyton lanfrancoi and the Maltese Rock
Centuary Palaeocyanus crassifolius, which
belong to monotypic genera, both of which are
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
endemic to the Maltese Islands. The recently
described Maltese Cliff-Orache is restricted to
sheer sea-cliffs in the western part. It is a dense
shrub with whitish, elongate leaves and is the
only species found in the genus Cremnophyton.
The same can be said for the Maltese Rock
Centuary, Malta’s national plant, which, in
Gozo, is restricted to the southern cliffs. The
Maltese Everlasting Helichrysum melitense is
another coastal species. Known in Maltese as
Sempreviva ta’ G˙awdex this is one of Gozo’s
endemic plants found only in the Dwejra area
and on Fungus Rock.
The flora of Gozo is essentially similar to that
of the rest of the Maltese Islands but there are
several species, which have been recorded only
from the Island. The Shrubby Campion Silene
fruticosa is one of them. A very small population
of this eastern Mediterranean species still
grows in the valleys of M©arr ix-Xini and
Xlendi. A number of typical dune species
persist on the sand-dunes at Ramla, which are
the least spoilt dunes in the Maltese Islands.
The Prickly Parsnip Echinophora spinosa and
the Sea Spurge Euphorbia paralias are two dune
species, which are confined to Ramla. One
cannot omit mentioning the famed Malta
Fungus Cynomorium coccineum, which in the
Islands is known mainly to grow on Fungus
Rock. This strange looking plant was formerly
only known from this islet and it was believed
to have medicinal and magical powers. In time
it was found growing in other parts of the
Mediterranean. Whilst few indigenous tree
species exist on Gozo, the African Tamarisk
Tamarix africana and the Chaste-tree Vitex
a g n u s - c a s t u s , two large shrubs, locally
considered as small trees, are quite widespread
in Gozo, while they are very rare on the main
Island.
The
Fauna
The land fauna of Gozo, apart from a few
mammals and reptiles, and several birds, is
largely made up of invertebrates, with insect,
arachnid and mollusc species being the most
dominant. Migrant bird species are quite in
evidence during spring and autumn, but only
about 15 species breed regularly on the island.
Amongst these one finds fine colonies of the
pelagic Cory’s Shearwater C a l o n e c t r i s
diomedea. The breeding population of the Shorttoed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla, which in
recent years decreased drastically on the Island
of Malta, is still widespread on Gozo during
the summer months. The most interesting
mammal species is the Sicilian Shrew Crocidura
sicula, which has been recorded only in Sicily
and Gozo. Its subspecies calypso occurs only
on Gozo. On the other hand mammal species
which are found on the Island of Malta, such
as the Weasel Mustela nivalis and the Pygmy
White-toothed Shrew Suncus etruscus are not
recorded from Gozo. The same can be said for
snakes. Out of four species recorded from
Malta, only the Western Whip Snake Coluber
viridiflavus is found on Gozo.
One of the most remarkable invertebrates
found in Gozo is the Ramla Sand Cricket
Brachytripes megacephalus. This rare,
nocturnal, relatively large-sized sandburrowing cricket is restricted to the sanddunes at Ramla. There are several endemic
invertebrates in Gozo. A recently described
species of False Scorpion C h t h o n i u s
(Epphippiochthonius) maltensis is restricted to
Dwejra.
The rocky valley of Wied ÓanWira supports a large
number of flora species
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
4
Ecological Sites
Dwejra is a geological complex, which is on top
of the list of Gozo’s ecological sites. Here one
can find geological formations, slickensides,
collapse structures, quaternary deposits, a
unique topography, and a diversity of habitats
including a freshwater pool. Fungus Rock is
found here too, standing in front of one of the
collapse depressions. This islet is not only the
home of the famed Malta Fungus but also of
the endemic subspecies Podarcis filfolensis
generalensis of the Maltese Wall Lizard. This
massive stack is known locally as Ha©ret ilÌeneral or il-Ìebla tal-Ìeneral and is a strict
Nature Reserve by virtue of L.N. 22 of 1992.
The Maltese Wall Lizard Podarcis filfolensis,
the well known slender lizard with the long
tail, is endemic to the Maltese Islands and to
the islands of Linosa and Lampione. Five
subspecies are known to occur, four of which
are found in the Maltese islands. The
subspecies maltensis is found on the islands of
Malta, Gozo and Comino and of course is
present at Dwejra area. But one of the other
subspecies, the generalensis, is restricted only
to Ha©ret il-Ìeneral and nowhere else. The
generalensis is different in appearance by
having reddish underparts with bluish flanks.
It was first described by the Maltese Naturalist
Giovanni Gulia in 1914.
Il-Qawra is also a subcircular collapse
depression, which includes what is popularly
known as the ‘inland sea’, surrounded by a
couple of valley mouths, cliff sides, a steep
sided ridge, clayey slopes and long
uncultivated fields. The endemic Maltese Seachamomile Anthemis urvilleana, a low-growing
plant, which is frequent in sea-side habitats is
one of the interesting flora species which grow
in the area. Il-Qattara, a permanent freshwater
pool fed by a perennial trickling spring, is also
found in this depression. This permanent
freshwater provides a habitat, which is quite
rare, and in spite of its small size its ecological
importance is great. It abounds with water life
particularly in summer, when the surrounding
area is parched dry.
5
Il-Qattara at Dwejra is a unique permanent freshwater
pool
Several species of insects, including diving
water beetles and water boatman, dragonflies,
and wasps, amongst others, are common here.
The richness of the pool’s fauna includes a
number of freshwater snails, which are found
in the spring trickling into the pool. Amongst
these one finds the Freshwater Spire-snail
Mercuria similis and the Dwarf Pond-snail
Lymnaea truncatula
The Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra, which has
almost disappeared from the island of Malta
and has decreased drastically in Gozo, still
visits the pool during the summer months. The
whole area of Dwejra is, in fact, also very
important from an ornithological point of view.
It is one of the few areas where one or two pairs
of Corn Bunting still breed. This species, which
prefers open country with a few or no trees,
builds the nest on the ground among herbage.
Dwejra is also one of the remaining posts
where another declining species, the
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata, is still
found breeding. It is a shy, resident species,
frequenting open countryside, preferring lowgrowing shrubs as a nesting site.
Next on the list as a site of ecological
importance is Ta’ Çenç extensive rocky area.
Apart from the beautiful landscape provided
by the massive lower coralline limestone cliffs,
the area is famous for its garigue vegetation,
parts of which are dominated by the Tree
Spurge E u p h o r b i a d e n d r o i d e s or the
Mediterranean Thyme Thymbra capitata. The
Common Pyramidal Orchid A n a c a m p t i s
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
pyramidalis , the French Daffodil Narcissus
t a z e t t a , the Large Star of Betlehem
Ornithogalum arabicum and the Blue Stonecrop
Sedum caeruleum are few of several common
flowering plants that grow here, providing an
extensive natural rock garden.
Ta’ Çenç area also qualifies as an international
important bird area. The cliffs support the
largest colony of Cory’s Shearwaters
Calonectris diomedea in the Maltese Islands,
and are a stronghold of the national bird, the
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius. The
cliff-top rocky area is a good breeding site for
the Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla
and the Spectacled Warbler S y l v i a
conspicillata, while the Peregrine Falcon Falco
peregrinus and the Barn Owl Tyto alba used to
breed in the cliffs. Quite recently a small colony
of the European Storm-petrel Hydrobates
pelagicus has been rediscovered in one of the
numerous sea caves below the cliffs.
Ta’ Çenç cliffs are the home of a large colony of about
1000 pairs of Cory’s Shearwaters
In this whole complex of natural habitats, small
ecological niches, such as the rocky rainwater
pools, are also found, albeit for a short period
during the rainy season. This scarce habitat is
important for the survival of small living
organisms such as the Fairy Shrimp
Branchipus schaefferi and the Pool Flea
Ceriodaphnia quadrangula. Some tiny species
living here lay hard-shelled fertilised eggs,
which sink to the bottom sediment and can
withstand the intense summer heat when the
pool dries up. The eggs will hatch when the
pool fills up again with the autumn rains.
The valleys in Gozo harbour very interesting
vegetation and support a wide variety of fauna
species. M©arr ix-Xini and Xlendi valleys are
amongst the most remarkable ones providing
adequate habitat for a variety of species. But
even other valleys, such as Lunzjata, are of
ecological significance, in spite of human
interference. Lunzjata valley, which carries a
permanent spring, is the only place in Gozo,
which supports the rare Fresh Water Crab, the
Maltese endemic subspecies Potamon fluviatile
lanfroncoi. The rare Dwarf Elder Sambucus
nebulus together with other interesting flora can
be found growing here. This is the only place
in the Maltese Islands for the predatory leech
Haemopis sanguisuga and the freshwater
amphipod Echinogammarus ebusitanus as well
as the breeding ground for the semi-aquatic
grasshopper Paratettetix meridionalis. Further
down the valley as it starts running towards
Xlendi, two snail species found on the rocky
sides are endemic to Gozo. Here too grows the
rare Sicilian Iris Iris sicula, an endemic plant
to Sicily and Malta. It was in the thick
vegetation along this valley that the Cetti’s
Warbler Cettia cetti first established itself some
twenty-five years ago as a new breeding bird
in Gozo. In fact the whole length of the valley
from Lunzjata down to Xlendi is one of the most
attractive sites for spring and autumn migrant
bird species as well as for winter visitors.
No garigue area in the Maltese Islands is as rich
as the area known as Tal-Ma©un, a rocky
limestone plateau protruding eastwards and
flanked by the valleys of Da˙let Qorrot and
Wied ir-Ri˙an. Here the garigue has developed
into a dense covering of low-growing shrubs
of a large variety of species, dominated by
Narrow-leaved Rock-rose Cistus monspeliensis,
Tree Spurge Euphorbia dendroides, Wolfbane
Periploca angustifolia, Mediterranean Heath
Erica multiflora, Olive-leaved Germander
Teucrium fruticans, and White Hedge-nettle
Prasium majus, with scattered Sea Squill
Uriginea maritima and Branched Asphodel
Asphodelus aestivus. Patches of the yellow and
purple forms of the rare Southern Dwarf Iris
Iris pseudomila, amongst several other scarce
species, are also found here.
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
6
Human Intervention
For the last 7000 years man has been tampering
with his natural environment and no doubt has
changed the face of these islands. Since man
arrived Gozo too has seen great changes. There
is not one single square metre on the face of
the whole island where man’s footprint is not
in evidence. Man started using land to yield
his sustenance and by time changed the
landscape. The terraced fields supported by
many kilometres of rubble walls together with
natural valleys and watercourses, cliffs and a
unique coastline carved through millennia of
years, harmonise together to present us with a
pleasant natural environment, quite rich in
biodiversity. However, the negative effects of
human activity have never been as devastating
as in the last forty years.
The human population of Gozo now stands
approximately at 28,000, which gives a density
of over 400 persons per square kilometre. No
wonder human pressure on the natural
environment is quite evident everywhere. In
spite of an increase in population, the terraced
slopes of valleys and hillsides, where fodder
crops were previously grown, now lie
abandoned. The characteristic dry-stone walls
are gradually collapsing, leading to the loss of
whole tracts of soil through rain-induced
erosion. Re-building of rubble walls needs time
and skills, and these are both lacking. So we
end up again with a degraded changing
landscape.
The increase in built-up areas, together with
the large number of new roads, some of which
have been constructed along valley beds, have
lead to an increased volume and rate of flow
of water run-off. Apart from eating up chunks
from the Gozitan countryside and ruining
natural watercourses, this development also
results in less water percolating into the
ground, while the run-off rainwater carries
tons of soil down into the valleys and
subsequently into the sea
The topography of Gozo, having a
proportionally high ratio of hills, is more prone
to run-off soil erosion. The end product of this
7
erosion-induced desertification can be easily seen
by the turbidity off valley mouths at sea after
heavy rains, which often give rise to flash floods.
The construction of roads and the booming
building development of the past thirty years
resulted in a flourishing quarrying industry to
the detriment of large stretches of land, both
garigue and agricultural, and in many cases
ruining the natural environment. Disused and
derelict quarries are not all restored into
agricultural land, and when restoration takes
place this is carried out in a slipshod and
haphazard way.
Apart from the building development there are
several other activities harming the Gozitan
Natural Environment. Illegal off-roading
activities along valley beds, on hillsides, and
not infrequently on Ramla Bay’s precious sand
dunes, lead to the opening of new tracks,
degradation of land, compaction of terrain and
the destruction of flora and fauna. Illegal
dumping in valleys of household wastes as
well as inert material from quarries and
building development only block natural
watercourses, and also damages the natural
environment in many ways.
The sand dunes at Ramla support an interesting variety
of flora and fauna.
Bird trapping and hunting, which is
widespread in Gozo, also has a negative impact
on the environment. They do not only harm
the environment by taking away large number
of birds but also contribute towards the
degradation of the landscape. Bird shooters
plant groves of the fast-growing eucalyptus
(Continued on page 11)
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
Banking in the Gozitan Economy*
CARMEN SALIBA**
Introduction
It is reckoned that Malta’s financial system is
healthy, well supervised in the context of a
comprehensive legal framework, and strongly
compliant with most of the international
standards and code. However, Maltese
financial institutions are continuously facing
challenges in our small and open economy.
The economic vulnerability of small island
states like the Maltese Islands arise from the
fact that their economies are to a large extent,
shaped by forces outside their control, mostly
due to their economic openness and high
dependence on a narrow range of exported
products. This means that their financial
development is likely to be dictated mostly by
forces outside their control.
The Banking System
Financial liberalisation and privatization
fundamentally transformed the Maltese
financial system during the 1990s. Restrictions
on bank interest rates were gradually removed
and the relaxation of capital controls facilitated
the growing integration of Maltese financial
markets with those abroad. Laws governing
the sector were entirely overhauled and a
regulatory framework was introduced based
on European Union legislation.
Banking in Malta is regulated by the Central
Bank of Malta Act 2002 and by the Banking
Act 1994. The CBM has the authority to define
and impose statistical reporting requirements
and to establish the actual reporting
population and standards for transmission so
as to enable it to bring Malta’s monetary and
* This is a summary of a long essay on “The Perceptions of Gozitans on Maltese Local Banks” by the same
author.
** Carmen Saliba is currently following a course leading
to the MA in Islands and Small States Studies at the
University Gozo Centre.
financial statistics in line with international
standards. For this reason a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Malta Financial
Services Authority (MFSA) has been signed,
and a co-operation agreement with the
National Statistics Office (NSO) has been
made, thus establishing an ongoing working
relationship on matters related to financial
stability. The introduction of a general
obligation of professional secrecy in the
Professional Secrecy Act of 1994 and the
introduction of the Prevention of Money
Laundering Act (1994), which have been
strengthened and updated on several
occasions, have consolidated the integrity of
the legislative framework itself and the
credibility of Malta as a financial centre.
A healthy and vibrant economy requires a
financial system that moves funds from people
who save, to people who have productive
investment opportunities. Despite the growth
of non-bank financial intermediaries and the
development of a domestic capital market,
banks remain the principal financial
institutions in Malta. The Maltese banking
industry is highly concentrated, reflecting the
small size of the domestic market and the
history of the industry.
The two major deposit money banks in Malta
are Bank of Valletta plc. and HSBC Bank Malta
plc (previously Mid-Bank Bank). The other
commercial banks operate on a smaller scale.
The privatisation of Mid-Med Bank in 1999
introduced higher competition and new
financial instruments and decreased state
ownership in the banking sector to a remaining
25% in Bank of Valletta plc. Plans are now in
hand to start the process for the selling of
shares in Bank of Valletta plc. Despite the high
concentration in the sector by the two major
banks, which account for about 90% of total
deposits and loans of domestic credit banks,
the degree of competition is reasonable given
the size of the economy, and has led to higher
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
8
diversification.
Maltese commercial banks offer all forms of
commercial banking services. This also
includes standard lending services of
overdraft, loans and trade finance. Banks are
flexible in considering applications for finance.
The retail banks also have separate
institutions, mainly on a joint venture basis,
to provide specialised financial services, such
as life insurance, fund management,
underwriting and security issues, long-term
housing schemes and leasing.
The two major banks have even furthered their
delivery channels through the provision of
internet banking. Credit institutions also
engaged in consolidation processes by
centralizing back-office functions. Some
domestic banks are expanding their business
operations by acquiring international
subsidiaries and increasing their collaboration
with foreign entities, as well as by opening
offices abroad to gain exposure to new
markets.
Moreover, the enactment of the
Special Funds (Regulation) Act 2002,
establishes the statutory basis for retirement
schemes and retirement funds, thus leading
to the development of schemes run by the
banks.
Banking in Gozo
Gozo is a small island with an area of 67km2.
Its settlements are small and the population
of around 30,500 is scattered over fourteen
different localities, thus requiring a spread of
various public and private services all over the
island. In Gozo commercial banking is
conducted by four banks. These include the
two major banks: Bank of Valletta plc and
HSBC Bank (Malta) plc; Lombard Bank
(Malta) plc and APS Bank Ltd. Lombard Bank
(Malta) plc and APS Bank Ltd are represented
only by one branch, which is situated in
Victoria, while the major banks are
represented in more than one locality.
In Malta financial products during the last few
years became more innovative and
9
sophisticated, thereby giving customers a
broader choice of investment opportunities.
The positive economic effect of this
development is that a greater proportion of
the country’s savings is being mobilized
through the financial system and channeled
to the productive sectors for investment
purposes. Despite the unfavorable economic
climate of recent years, the profitability of the
credit institutions in Malta and Gozo has
continued to improve steadily.
The high crucial financial intermediary role
of the deposit banks is evidenced by the high
propensity of residents who place their
savings in bank deposits. During the last ten
years Gozitans have played a major role in the
expansion of banking deposits. This is an
important indicator of economic development
in Gozo.
Banks play a major role in channeling funds
to borrowers with productive investment
opportunities, they are important in ensuring
that the financial system and the economy run
smoothly and efficiently. However, whereas
in Malta a high percent of bank deposits are
loaned to the private sector, in Gozo only a
small percent of deposits are loaned to the
same sector. This is an important indicator of
under-development and lack of investment
opportunities available in Gozo. If the level
of loans and advances in Gozo were to be on
the same level as those of Malta, there will be
an increase in investment in the Gozitan
economy with all the resultant benefits in
wealth generation and job creation. In Gozo
private entrepreneurs must be encouraged to
invest not only in the expansion of their
existing businesses but also in new ones. This
can be done if Gozitan savings can be invested
in the Gozitan economy for the benefit of the
whole society.
Perceptions of Gozitans on Local
Banks
The marketing orientation of Maltese financial
institutions is evidenced by their focus on
customer needs and on market segmentation,
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
product development, pricing policies,
personal selling and advertising and
promotional programmes. In the month of
August 2004 a survey on the perceptions of
Gozitans on local banks was carried out. The
results were based on a sample of two hundred
individuals ranging from an age of 18 to that
of 94. The replies received provide an insight
on the Gozitans’ banking activities with their
most preferred banks and how they perceive
the service provided by the local banks.
Moreover, the preferred localities and frequent
banking transactions have also been outlined.
The relevance of the survey results is
undoubtedly constrained by the limited
sample size and the limited amount covered
in the questionnaire.
Eighty two per cent of respondents have
chosen either Bank of Valletta plc (BOV) or
HSBC Bank Malta plc (HSBC) as their best
bank in Malta. On the other hand, only 33
percent of the respondents hold accounts only
with their preferred bank. The survey
illustrates that Gozitans are interested in
getting an efficient and fast service. Gozitans
also prefer to deal with helpful staff, who thus
enable their preferred bank to gain a
trustworthy and reliable image. Cash
withdrawals, cheque encashments, and
depositing of funds result the most frequent
banking transactions. Given the limited
number of branches and agencies, Victoria
emerges as the preferred locality for effecting
banking transactions. However, there are
cases where branch location is a key factor and
influences a customer’s choice of a financial
institution.
In the Maltese Islands the rationalization
process has been facilitated by the massive
growth in automated banking. The availability
of ATMs and sharing arrangements like those
of APS with BOV, give card holders of APS the
ability to use the cash machines of several
others, thus reducing the customer demand for
such extensive branch networks. In the survey
67 per cent of respondents utilize a debit card,
and 37 per cent of respondents utilise a credit
card. Only 21 per cent of respondents utilise
internet banking as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Survey Results: Use of Automated Services
by Gozitans
Figure 2: Survey Results: Percentage Age Profile of
Participants with no Automated Banking Services
Figure 2 shows the age profile of 26 percent
of respondents who do not make use of any
automated bank services offered in Gozo.
When internet banking became available,
many professionals predicted the death of the
branch. And yet, branch-based business has
not only maintained its place in banking, it is
growing. In the survey only 16 per cent of the
respondents think that local banks are already
efficient and thus no other measure must be
adopted. The other respondents highlighted
the need to increase the number of branches/
agencies and ATM machines in other villages
in Gozo. An increase in the opening hours was
also requested, while 52 per cent of
respondents clearly viewed, that there is the
need to adopt effective measures in order to
reduce queues and thus be able to give a faster
service.
According to 35 per cent of respondents, no
measure must be adopted by Maltese local
banks in order to become more client-friendly.
The remaining participants highlighted the
need of continuous training as a priority area
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
10
and a key element in the professional
development of banks’ employees in order to
achieve their business objectives and ensure
quality standards.
Conclusion
Local commercial banks play an important role
in the social and economic development of
Gozo. With their achievements local banks
prove that they are the banks with whom one
can plan his or her financial future. But it is
not just the financial strength that Gozitans can
take comfort in. Gozitans believe that a sense
of commitment, quality and service must be at
the core of their business. The future of local
banks in Gozo lies in offering customers an
increasingly personalized and professional
service. A subsequent challenge is to ensure
that the service delivered meets the
specification set.
This is essential since during the last ten years
Gozitans have played a major role in the
expansion of banking deposits. However, local
banks need to nurture their loan portfolio by
tapping related marked segments in Gozo. The
Gozitan economy will benefit from the
introduction of a strategically defined service
quality programme; in order to monitor the
changing environment with respect to Gozitan
customer needs and expectations; technology
and product development; business and
economic conditions; and competitor activities.
This is a must for the Gozitan community
which is becoming increasingly demanding,
better informed and ready to play a more active
role in their relationship with a bank.
Better data to assess the real role of financial
institutions in the island of Gozo is essential.
This will help promote Gozo’s own interests,
and render the demand for disparity
reductions more credible. Moreover there is
the need of further studies in order to come up
with proposals to support and encourage the
Gozitan economy, in order to be able to exploit
the strengths and opportunities that Gozo
offers.
(Continued from page 7)
trees to attract birds for hunting. These groves
are sprouting everywhere, not only preventing
the establishment of any undergrowth, but
consist of alien species incompatible with our
indigenous vegetation and landscape. Gozo
also has to endure widespread illegal hunting
of protected birds. The Peregrine and the Barn
Owl, to mention just two species, have been
lost due to illegal hunting. Illegal shooting of
protected birds also prevents other species
such as the Kestrel to settle and breed here.
Bird trappers, too, should share the blame of
the degradation of Gozo’s landscape. They
transform rich garigue areas and agricultural
land into bird trapping sites, not infrequently
spraying herbicides on these sites to prevent
vegetation growth. They set up netting sites in
ecological areas, along cliff edges and hillsides,
turning a beautiful landscape into one big eyesore. Tal- Ma©un, Ta’ Çenç, Wardija Point and
several other places are evidence of these
atrocities against Gozo’ natural environment.
11
References
Borg, J.J., Stevens, D. & Sultana J. Nature in Gozo.
in.prep.
Lanfranco, E. (1996). The Flora and Vegetation of
Gozo, in Farrugia J & Briguglio, L. (Eds.) A
Focus in Gozo. University of Malta Gozo
Centre, Malta.
Schembri, P.J., Lanfranco, E., Farrugia, P., Schembri,
S. & Sultana J. (1987). L o c a l i t i e s w i t h
Conservation Values in the Maltese Islands.
Environment Division, Ministry of Education:
Malta.
Schembri, P.J. & Sultana, J. (Eds.). (1989). Red Data
Book for the Maltese Islands. Department of
Information, Malta.
Sultana, J. & Falzon, V. (Eds.). (1996). Wildlife of
the Maltese Islands. Environment Protection
Department: Floriana Malta.
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
Of Salmonellae and Salmonella Gozo
LORANNE VELLA*
Introduction
I will always remember the summer of 1993 as
a particularly hot and humid season, not to
mention my experiences chasing, with gloved
hands and booted feet, a few hundred
apprehensive and distrustful cows for some
stinking, fresh dung. The memories now are
quite hilarious, but not then, at least not when
the bulls or a rather angry cow had to be
confronted.
Having always been rather keen on the study
of micro-organisms, I knew right from my
freshman year at the University of Malta, that
I wanted to work in a topic related to
microbiology for my undergraduate thesis. In
1991, I spent a whole summer reading Medline
abstracts, but it was an article on Salmonella in
one of my Medicine Digest copies that actually
caught my attention. Another reason that
encouraged me to undertake a study on
Salmonella was the fact that no such studies on
animals had been carried out before in Malta.
I remember writing a brief protocol about what
I wanted to do, going to the Bacteriology
laboratory in St. Luke’s Hospital and asking
Dr. PauI Cuschieri, the Consultant
Bacteriologist in charge of that laboratory, if he
could be my tutor and if what I had in mind
was feasible. Happily enough, he was quite
interested and accepted without hesitation. So
started a long and eventful study on
salmonellae. Initially, I wanted to study
salmonella carriage, infection and disease in
poultry but complications arose, primarily
because permission to visit poultry processing
plants was almost impossible to obtain. Next,
I focused my attention on pigs; however, I
practically knew no one in Malta who could
take me around the various pig farms in Malta.
In the end, keeping in mind the limited time I
*
Ms Loranne Vella is a pharmasist. She is currently working
as a mycologist. She was responsible for the setting up of
the first mycology laboratory in the Maltese Islands.
1
The gastrointestinal form is often referred to as food
poisoning, although this is a misnomer, since the disease is
an infection rather than an intoxication.
had to carry out the study, I realized that Gozo
was just small enough and had just the right
number of cattle farms for my project. There
were other advantages: my father could help
to take me around the various farms for the
samples (since I had no car) and I could speak
the various Gozitan dialects, which made the
farmers more receptive.
The Genus Salmonella
Salmonella is a group of bacteria consisting of
more than 2000 different types (known as
serotypes or serovars); these are all potentially
pathogenic to man and may cause
gastroenteritis, septicaemia or enteric fever.
Salmonellae also infect many animal species,
including birds and reptiles. In man, infections
often result following ingestion of improperly
cooked animal products that have been
previously contaminated with faecal matter
during processing. This results in an acute, selflimiting gastroenteritis1 or a systemic infection
(enteric fever) involving other areas of the body.
Patients with acute gastroenteritis excrete large
numbers of bacteria in faeces but numbers
diminish as recovery progresses, so that after 3
to 4 weeks, stools are usually bacteria free.
However, some patients continue to excrete
salmonellae for a longer period, which ranges
from months to several years, although
permanent chronic carriage lasting for more
than one year is very rare. The case fatality rate
is low, usually less than 0.4% and deaths mainly
occur in the very young, the very old and in
debilitated, immuno-compromised persons.
The generic term Salmonella was given to the
micro-organism in 1900 in honor of Dr. D. E.
Salmon (1850-1914), an American pathologist
who, together with Theobald Smith, was the
first to discover and describe Salmonella. On
the surface of this bacterium, there are various
proteins called antigens, which differ in their
nature between the different salmonellae. This
enables scientists to distinguish between one
Salmonella serovar and another; thus, Salmonella
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
12
Enteritidis has different antigens on its surfaces
compared to say, Salmonella Montevideo.
Historically, salmonellae have been classified
according to their antigenic structure (i.e. the
types of antigens present) and each new type
that is discovered is named after the place in
which it was first isolated. The KauffmannWhite scheme is a systematic tabulation of the
different antigenic structures of the Salmonella
serovars known. In this classification system,
the genus Salmonella (abbreviated to S.) is
divided into two species, namely, S. enterica
and S. bongori. Salmonella enterica is further
subdivided into 6 subspecies, the most
important of which is Salmonella enterica
subspecies enterica. Most of the Salmonella
serovars pathogenic for mammals and birds
belong to this subspecies, although members
of S. enterica subspecies arizonae are important
causes of diarrhoeal illness in turkeys and are
therefore of worldwide economic importance.
The Study
In 1993, I therefore started a cross-sectional
study on a representative sample of cows and
bulls from various farms in Gozo, the main
aims of which were:
nine consecutive weeks from each individual
animal chosen from 52 farms distributed in 12
towns in Gozo. The 300 bovines sampled
represented 12.5% of the total bovine
population of Gozo whilst the 52 farms
sampled constituted 83.9% of the total available
sampling points (farms = 62). Each swab was
placed in a special medium to protect it, stored
at 4ºC whilst in transit and processed in the
laboratory within 24 hours of collection.
Isolation and identification of the Salmonella
isolates were carried out using standard
procedures. Antibiotic sensitivity testing on
the isolated strains was performed using the
impregnated disc diffusion method (Stokes’
modification of the comparative method); the
antibiotics chosen included ampicillin,
cefuroxime, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin,
furazolidone, gentamicin, sulphafurazole,
tetracycline and trimethoprim. Throughout
the study adequate internal quality control was
carried out including quality control on culture
media used for the isolation of Salmonella
serovars, quality control during the actual
isolation and identification of the organisms,
controls during serological testing and controls
used for the antibiotic sensitivity testing.
Results and Discussion
1. to determine the prevalence of
Salmonella excretion/carriage in these
animals;
2. to identify the most common serovar
prevalent within the study population;
and,
3. to determine the presence of any
serovar resistance to the antibiotics
commonly used in animal husbandry.
The study population consisted of 2325 cows
and 68 bulls. A representative sample of 300
head was selected using strict random
sampling from 62 farms spread in 14 towns in
Gozo. These consisted of 296 cows and 4 bulls;
the animals were from 3 to 4 years old and the
cows consisted of both wet (milked) and dry
(non milked) animals. Calves and one year old
heifers and bulls were excluded.
Faecal swabs were obtained every week for
13
Of the 300 faecal samples taken, 41.3% (n = 124)
yielded Salmonella and more than one serovar
were isolated from seven swabs; hence, there
were 131 isolates in all, which increased the
percentage of Salmonella isolated to 43.7%.
Since a single faecal swab was taken from each
animal, this means that 41.3% of the animals
sampled were excreting the organism at the
time of sampling with 7 of the animals
excreting more than one type of Salmonella.
The cows and bulls yielding positive Salmonella
cultures did not show any clinical signs of
salmonellosis such as fever, dullness,
diminished appetite, blood-stained faeces and
in the case of cows, reduced milk yields. Since
the animals were excreting the organism, it is
more likely that they were Salmonella carriers
rather than cases of acute infection. However,
from this study, it cannot be concluded
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
whether this was temporary or permanent
carriage. The nature of carriage is particularly
important because it affects the persistence of
Salmonella in the herds. Additionally, cattle
from Gozo are used for human consumption
both in Malta and Gozo. This increases the
opportunity of Salmonella dissemination at the
abattoir prior to slaughter with a consequent
increase in the risk of meat contamination.
However, lack of reporting of individual cases
especially if mild or no symptoms are
experienced have to be kept in mind. It could
also be due to the fact that the serovars isolated
from the cattle studied have a low
pathogenicity and are easily destroyed by
proper cooking.
Salmonella serotype
Antigenic structure
No. of Isolates
Croft
Telaviv
Montevideo
Gozo
Kpeme
Infantis
Abadina
Other*
28: g,m,s: e,n,z15
28: y: e,n,z 15
6,7: g,m,s: 1,2,7
28: e,h: e,n,z15
28: e,h: 1,7
6,7: r: 1,5
28: g,m: e,n,z15
-
55 (18.3%)
29 (9.7%)
17 (5.7%)
14 (4.7%)
7
(2.3%)
2
(0.7%)
1
(0.3%)
6
(2.0%)
Total
131 (43.7%)
* These were rough strains that could not be serotyped and hence, identified;
consequently, they cannot be classified under any serogroup.
Table 1: Number and types of Salmonella serovars
The New Salmonella Serovar
Grum stain of Salmonella showing Grum-negative rods
(x1000)
Seven different kinds of serovars were isolated,
including a new serovar for which the name
Salmonella Gozo was given (Table 1). When
taken together, the three serovars S. Croft, S.
Telaviv and S. Montevideo, constituted up to
33.7% of the total number of samples taken.
Thus approximately one in every three bovines
sampled might have been carrying one of these
three serovars. The relative proportions of the
serovars isolated may affect the likelihood of
the infection of persons or other animals; this
is also influenced by the pathogenicity of
individual Salmonella serovars. In several
countries, S. Dublin and S. Typhimurium are
the most common and most pathogenic
serovars causing serious clinical infection in
adult cattle and calves.
However, at the time of the study, this does
not seem to be the case in Gozo, because neither
serovar was isolated. Also, since the main
Salmonella serovars isolated from man locally
are S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium, (which
were not isolated from any of the animals
sampled), it is very probable that Salmonella
serovars in beef are not a likely cause of
Salmonella infections in Gozo. This could be
due to very efficient cooking of meat dishes.
A total of 14 Salmonella isolates belonged to a
serovar that was subsequently confirmed to be
a new serovar by the WHO Collaborating
Centre for Reference and Research on Salmonella
in France. All isolates were biochemically
typical of the Salmonella genus. This isolate
could not be serotyped easily with the
commercial antisera available to me and it could
not be classified in the then current edition of
the Kauffmann-White scheme. I determined
that the serovar belonged to the O group 28 but
it showed antigens in just one phase, (the e,h
antigens), while the antigens in the other phase
could not be determined even after repetitive
attempts (unfortunately, at that time, the
hospital laboratory also experienced a shortage
of antisera which are necessary for the
identification of each Salmonella isolate). I had
to send all the isolates to the WHO Centre in
France for full identification; it was
subsequently reported by this Centre that this
serovar had the antigenic structure of 28: e,h:
e,n,z15. The fourteen isolates were cultured
from specimens taken from farms in Nadur (n
= 1; one farm) followed by Sannat (n = 3; two
farms) and Xewkija (n = 10; three farms).
Although the first specimen to yield S. Gozo was
taken from a farm in Nadur (the farms in Nadur
were the ones which I visited first in July 1993),
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
14
it was one of the isolates from Sannat which was
first fully confirmed to be a new serovar by the
reference laboratory (from my laboratory logbook records which I still have, the date in
which I took the sample that yielded this
particular isolate was 2 August , 1993). The ten
isolates of S. Gozo from Xewkija were obtained
from three different farms in this town; direct
or indirect contact between the animals on these
three different farms is probably responsible for
the spread of this new serovar.
When news came from France that the serovar
was new and needed a name, my first thought
was Salmonella Gozo but I wanted to discuss
the issue with my tutor and ask for his opinion.
Dr. P. Cuschieri suggested Salmonella Threehills
and Salmonella Calypso, but I wasn’t very happy
with this choice. I wanted a simple name and
a name which people would associate
immediately with a geographically known
location. Strictly speaking, the name should
have been Salmonella Nadur because that was
the place from where it was first isolated. Still,
Nadur is not as well known as Gozo and so, I
still held in favour of the name S. Gozo, which,
after much good-natured argument, also
satisfied my tutor. Hence, the name which we
eventually proposed for this new serovar is S.
enterica subspecies enterica var. Gozo or briefly,
Salmonella Gozo. This name was accepted by
Prof. Popoff (with whom I was corresponding
through Dr. Cuschieri) at the WHO Centre for
Salmonella in France and is today listed together
with the other Salmonella serovars in recent
issues of the Kauffmann-White scheme.
Apart from the taxonomic and epidemiological
significance associated with the discovery of a
new serovar, the isolation of such a strain has
other implications. Since the bovine
population in Gozo is almost completely
isolated from other bovines, this serovar may
have become adapted to the island due to
particular environmental factors or farming
practices found only in Gozo. If this holds true,
such factors have still to be determined.
Further studies are required to reveal how
diffuse this serovar is on the island. To my
knowledge, no such studies have been
conducted yet.
15
Further Points
As a result of strict random sampling, the
number of animals sampled were proportional
to the total number of animals in each locality
(Table 2). The basic trend appears to be one of
higher Salmonella incidence in localities situated
in the SE and SW regions of Gozo. The seven
localities (Fontana, G˙ajnsielem, Kerçem,
Munxar, Nadur, Sannat, Victoria and Xewkija)
that have the highest percentage of Salmonella
positive animals are all geographically adjacent
to each other. The other localities are quite
remote compared to these seven regions. The
close proximity of these localities lends
strength to the hypothesis that easy contact
between farmers and farm workers in these
places, provides ample opportunity for the
transfer of Salmonella between one farm and
another through commonly shared tools,
machines and other fomites.
Pigeons and other birds kept on the farms
investigated may also be responsible for the
carriage of salmonellae from one place to
another. These birds are mobile and may
defaecate onto, and thus contaminate, water
reservoirs and animal feeds. The cycle is
complete when the cows become infected and
start shedding the organism in the environment
thus promoting further infection and
colonisation of other animals. Other animals
that may contribute to the spread of salmonellae
in different farms include dogs, cats and rats.
The use of pressure hoses to clean and disinfect
animal pens may cause aerosols to form and
spread salmonellae to other parts of the premises
and thus further contributes to the spread of
infection amongst animals. Transmission of
salmonellae may also occur during breeding; in
Gozo, bulls are sold or transferred from one farm
to another for mating purposes.
Town
No. of bovines per
locality
No. of animals
sampled
No. of Salmonella
Isolates
Xewkija
Victoria
Kerçem
Sannat
G˙arb
Nadur
Munxar
Xag˙ra
G˙ajnsielem
Fontana
San Lawrenz
Ûebbu©
629
510
384
359
124
101
92
62
44
41
34
13
104
51
36
49
13
15
9
9
5
5
2
2
44
22
16
32
1
7
5
0
3
1
0
0
Total
2393
300
131
Table 2: Percentage frequency of isolates per town
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
No salmonellae were isolated from San
Lawrenz, Xag˙ra and Ûebbug, which are
relatively further north compared to other
localities. There is no clear explanation for this
result. Admittedly, the number of animals
sampled from these regions was small
compared to the other localities, but then, the
total bovine population in these areas is also
small compared to that of other towns.
It is common practice in Gozo to house all
bovines in a large barn or else divide the herd
into small numbers and house them together
in smaller pens. Herding the animals together
facilitates transfer of salmonellae from one cow
to another. After milking, during the day, the
animals are almost always allowed to stroll
freely in a large open yard and this may
enhance transmission, apart from the possible
contamination f feeds in troughs. In Xag˙ra
and San Lawrenz, the bovines were kept in
sheds of 6 animals each. This partial isolation
may limit transmission of infection from one
animal to another.
time of the study, the farmers reported using
the following antibiotics to treat infections in
their cattle: penicillins, oxytetracycline,
streptomycin,
trimethoprim
with
sulphamethazine and gentamicin. However,
they did not mention using chloramphenicol,
cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin and furazolidone.
During testing, the strains gave definite results,
there were either sensitive or resistant practically no strains showed intermediate
resistance. The majority of strains were
sensitive to most of the antibiotics used but
most strains (n = 98, 74.8%) of all serovars
(excluding S. Abadina), were resistant to
sulphafurazole. Resistance to sulphonamides
by S. Montevideo was found to be greater than
with the other serovars.
Despite the widespread use of penicillins and
oxytetracycline for the treatment of infections
in the bovines studied, relatively little
resistance was found to these antibiotics. It was
most reassuring that no resistance to the newer
antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and cefuroxime) was
observed.
Conclusions
LEGEND
L1
L2
L3
L4
L5
L6
L7
Qala
Nadur
Xag˙ra
Ûebbu©
G˙asri
G˙arb
San Lawrenz
L8
L9
L10
L11
L12
L13
L14
Kerçem
Munxar
Sannat
G˙ajnsielem
Xewkija
Victoria
Fontana
Antibiotic Sensitivity Tests
All the antibiotics used in this study have
applications in both human and veterinary
medicine with the exception of furazolidone
which is used exclusively in animals. At the
By March 1994, I had completely finished my
study and writing it up. I remember then being
completely immersed into studying for the
looming final examinations and so, I was
greatly surprised by the publicity which
followed when the Head of the Pharmacy
Department broke the news of the S. Gozo
isolation in a press conference, because I was
not expecting it. However, when I look back,
it is the lesson of being prepared and of
perseverance in doing one’s work right the first
time that comes instantly to mind. Quoting
the great Louis Pasteur, “Chance favours the
prepared mind”, when one prepares well and
meticulously carries out the task at hand from
beginning to end, no matter how laborious the
work or what the subject matter is, the end
result is always worth the efforts put in.
Finally, I have always believed that what one
starts, one must finish and then, one has to
move on.
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
(Continued on page 27)
16
An Interview with Ann Monsarrat
MAURICE CAUCHI*
When did you first come to Gozo?
Nicholas and I came to Gozo for a week in
October 1968, stayed at the Calypso Hotel in
Marsalforn and immediately fell in love with
the island.
What made you decide to come to Gozo
in the first place?
This is rather a long story. When I married
Nicholas he was living in Canada, where he had
been director of the UK Information Office, and
he had recently bought one of the Thousand
Islands in the St Lawrence River, a spectacularly
beautiful area. The island was minute, with just
room for a house, a boathouse and a few trees,
but we both loved the isolation and being so
closely surrounded by water. But the winters
there, of course, were so cold that we could only
enjoy it for a few months each year. So we began
to search for a slightly larger island with a
warmer climate on which we could live
permanently. We first heard of Gozo from
Professor Parkinson, of Parkinson’s Law fame.
He was a very sociable fellow, then building a
holiday house for himself in San Pawl tat-Targa.
Gozo, he told us, was very beautiful but far too
quiet, no one could possibly live on it. It
sounded exactly what we had in mind. We spent
a week here looking at all kinds of properties
but it wasn’t until our last night that we were
shown an old farmhouse in San Lawrenz which
we both thought enchanting. Just a few hours
before our departure, Nicholas signed the deeds
by candlelight. The electricity had cut out all
over the island, which was a quite a common
occurrence then. Our lawyer was Dr. Anton
Calleja, a delightful man. He and his sister,
Maria, became our first Gozitan friends.
How has Gozo changed since you came
here first?
Well, happily, the electricity is now splendidly
reliable. There used to be many shabby areas
* Professor Maurice Cauchi was the head of the Pathology
Department at the University of Malta. He is currently retired
in Australia, where he is also President of the Maltese
Community Council of Victoria.
17
and a general feeling of poverty. In the villages
many houses were without electricity and for
many families their only supply of water came
from the village pump. America was still
sending food parcels to the older inhabitants.
Kerosene for cooking and light was delivered
door to door by donkey cart. Children,
especially the boys, left school at a very early
age, often at ten or eleven, to help in the home
and fields and many women rarely left the
house except to go to church. Nicholas used
to worry that the children had no fun and
arranged for a conjurer to come over from
Malta to entertain them at the annual San
Lawrenz Christmas party. This was such an
extraordinary novelty that many of the parents
came to see him too. But really one shouldn’t
interfere. During one trick a small boy
appeared to have been beheaded which caused
tremendous consternation. It is very different
now when so many families have television
and there is a sense of real prosperity. There is
also more compassion for the disadvantaged
and fewer restrictions for the young. At festas
when we first arrived, the girls all stood on one
side of the square and the boys on the other,
eyeing each other from a distance. Only the
boys were allowed to follow the procession.
However, there are several things I miss from
those earlier, simpler days, like the great flocks
of sheep and goats which rustled past the
house every morning and evening and the
donkeys, which pulled the ploughs and were
for many the only means of transport. It was a
much quieter island then.
How would you describe relations of
‘expatriates’ with the local population?
They seem to me to be remarkably good. I don’t
know anyone who hasn’t had a wonderfully
generous welcome and made good Gozitan
friends.
Are there enough facilities in Gozo to
attract people from overseas to retire here?
There certainly are for me and everyone else I
know. There are excellent doctors and dentists,
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
a very pleasant and efficient hospital, a wide
range of shops and restaurants and there is
certainly no lack of entertainment. Gozo has
an extraordinary wealth of musical talent and
great enterprise in putting on operas and
concerts. It is often impossible to go to
everything. And then there is an excellent
cinema and library. The only thing I can think
of which might be improved is the bus service.
Both Gozitans and foreigners, especially those
who no longer drive, might welcome smaller
buses which ran more frequently.
Do you involve yourself in any local
activities, organisations, etc?
I used to think that the best and probably only
things foreigners should do was to donate
money and encourage Gozitan enterprise and
talent. It was with this in mind that I joined
Wirt G˙awdex when it was revived a few years
ago. I just wanted to give them some financial
support but, since I had been a journalist in my
youth, I was soon roped in to help with their
publicity. It was a very exciting time. We got
a lot done and I was very glad to have the
opportunity to actually participate in doing
something for the island.
What would make Gozo more attractive to
persons like yourself?
I can’t think of a single thing. I love it just as it is.
Any comments relating to what makes Gozo
different from Malta?
Oh, the peace and the people. I enjoy Malta too,
but compared with Gozo it is like going to the
big city. There were only four ferries a day
when we first came to live here and they were
quickly cancelled at the slightest hint of a
storm. Now, it is possible to enjoy both islands,
but I still wouldn’t want to live anywhere but
in peaceful San Lawrenz. Gozo seems to me
to be a very ancient patch of land, with its
strange, flat-topped hills and deep valleys.
Wandering along its goat-tracks one has a great
sense of its history. I never tire of it.
World War and, by the time I met him, he had
curiously reverted to the naval regime of
‘watches’, four hours on duty and four hours
off, though his timetable was rather more fluid
than the Navy would have allowed. In Gozo
he usually woke around 5 am, strolled round
the garden, listened to several radio news
broadcasts and then settled down to fair copy
the two pages he had written the day before.
He very rarely changed anything after that. He
then began work on the next two pages before
lunch and, after a four-hour siesta, worked
again before and after dinner. He was
extremely disciplined and had the whole book
in his head before he began writing it. He did
jot things down in notebooks during the
planning stage but it was all very minimal. He
was fortunate in never being short of ideas and
he never took a holiday until he had written
the first paragraph of his next book.
Tell us something about what you yourself
have been doing, writing etc.
Well, I have been writing bits and pieces for
guidebooks to Malta and Gozo and a chapter
on the deity of the islands’ amazing neolithic
temples for a book, covering all aspects on
Malta’s prehistory. Daniel Cilia, a Gozitan of
course, has been the prime mover in this and
has taken many superb photographs for it.
However, I haven’t really been doing much
writing since I had what I consider to be the
very great honour of being put on the board of
St James Cavalier in Valletta. It is a wonderful
place, a showcase of all the arts. It has been a
great experience seeing it establish itself so
quickly. It means that I have been in Malta
more than usual but I am still always delighted
to drive onto the Gozo ferry and head back
home. And, having lived here for thirty-four
years now, more than half my life, I certainly
do consider Gozo as my home.
What are your plans for the future?
To continue enjoying Gozo and one day, I hope,
to finish writing a book for which I still have
to do a great deal more research.
Tell us something about the working
routine of your late husband?
Nicholas was in the Navy during the Second
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
18
Towards a Strategy for Sustainable Development in
the Maltese Islands with Special Reference to Gozo
LINO BRIGUGLIO*
Pursuing sustainable development goals is
important for the Maltese Islands given their
high population densities, which lead to heavy
pressure on the environment. This is especially
so in the case of the island of Gozo, which is more
dependent on the environment than Malta, due
to its reliance on agriculture and tourism.
The Conference on sustainable development
in Gozo, which was held at Hotel Ta Cenc on
26 November 2004, highlighted the main
sustainable development issues in this small
island with a land area of 67 square kilometres
and a population of about 30,000. The
conference was organised by the National
Commission for Sustainable Development,
together with the Ministry for Gozo and the
University Gozo Centre, with the support of
the EC Representation in Malta. It was
attended by about 90 participants.
In his introductory remarks, HE Ronald
Gallimore, who at that time headed the EC
Representation in Malta, said that the meeting
was an important one in view of the fact that it
dealt with sustainable development, which
encompasses economic, social and
environmental dimensions. He referred to the
EU Lisbon Agenda, which sets out a ten-year
strategy to make the EU the world’s most
dynamic and competitive economy. He said
that this strategy should lead to a stronger
economy based on sound environmental
policies and social includes, which are at the
basis of sustainable development. He praised
the National Commission for Sustainable
Development for taking the initiative to draw
up a sustainable development strategy for the
Maltese Islands.
The Ethical Dimension
Hon Giovanna Debono, Minister for Gozo,
*
Lino Briguglio is Director of the University of Malta Gozo
Centre
19
spoke about the meaning of sustainable
development, and emphasised the point that
such development has, at its roots, an ethical
dimension in that thinking long term for future
generations is an ethical issue. She dwelt at
some length on the special development
constraints faced by Gozo in view of its double
insularity, small domestic market and
ecological fragility. She gave a brief account of
the actions undertaken by the Ministry for Gozo
to promote sustainable development on the
island. The full speech of Minister Debono, in
Maltese, is presented as an annex to this article.
The author of this article (second from left) addressing
the participants. Other speakers on the panel were
The Hon Giovanna Debono (left), The Hon George
Pullicino and HE Ronald Gallimore
Hon George Pullicino, Minister for Rural Affairs
and the Environment, who represents the Prime
Minister as chairman of the National
Commission for Sustainable Development, also
referred to the ethical dimension of sustainable
development and emphasised that need that
every one of us feels the need to act responsibly
to improve the quality of life of the population
as a whole and not just to a section of it. He said
that sustainable development is multifaceted
and it is therefore necessary to consider its many
dimensions in the strategy. He said that
economic development is necessary to create
sound environmental management, and that the
quality of life of the people is intimately tied
with economic and environmental concerns. He
explained the role of the National Commission
for Sustainable Development in promoting
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
awareness of the need for a holistic approach
in attempting to improve the quality of life of
the Maltese population.
Sustainable Development and
Quality of Life
Professor Briguglio spoke next. He said that
ultimately sustainable development is
intended to improve the quality of life. He said
that economic development is very important
in this regard, and efficiency is at the core of
such development. However, environmental
and social concerns require that economic
development should not be short sighted, and
should have a long run dimension, so that the
changes will be durable and will benefit
current and future generations.
He explained that the process of drawing and
implementing the strategy itself should be
conducive towards the creation of participatory
schemes and educational experiences. He also
explained the role of the National Council for
Sustainable Development in the drawing up
the strategy, and said that the Commission was
set up in terms of the Environment Protection
Act (2001) to raise awareness on the need for
sustainable development.
The Special Needs of Gozo
The participants then split into three groups,
focussing on economic, environmental and
social issues respectively. Each group was
asked to review the draft strategy document
and to suggest improvements to the text.
The main outcomes of the sessions, in so far as
Gozo is concerned were the following:
• The sustainable development strategy is
likely to include more reference to Gozo. In
its present form, the draft strategy does not
give appropriate importance to the special
needs of the island
• Issues of direct relevance to the sustainable
development of Gozo were discussed at
length during the break-out sessions. The
most important constraints identified by
participants related to:
(1) Gozo’s heavy dependence on transport for
economic development. There was a call for
improvements in the inter-island transport
connections
(2) Gozo has a fragile ecosystem, and tourism
and agriculture, which are Gozo’s most
important economic sectors, exert heavy
pressure on the system. There was a call for
better environmental management on the
island
(3) There are various threats to Gozo’s social
cohesion, arising from the rapid changes
that were taking place. There was a call for
policies to take account of these threats.
The Conference was attended by a large number of
participants
Educational Outcomes
The conference offered an opportunity for an
educative experience arising from the
informative introductory speeches, video on
sustainability indicators and presentation on
the purpose of a sustainable development
strategy. The conference helped to foster greater
awareness that the development challenge in
Gozo needs to be tackled in a holistic way, with
economic, social and environmental concerns
integrated in development strategies and plans
for implementation.
In addition the participants from the different
walks of life and with different interests, had
the opportunity to share their views and
express their opinions on what needs to be
done to promote sustainable development in
Gozo and in the Maltese Islands as a whole.
As expected there were contrasting views, but
in general, participants agreed that a one sided
approach to development is no development
at all.
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
20
ANNEX
Diskors ta’ l-Onor. Giovanna Debono, Ministru g˙al G˙awdex
fil-ftu˙ tal-konferenza “LEJN STRATEÌIJA GÓALL-IÛVILUPP
SOSTENIBBLI TA’ GÓAWDEX”, organizzata min-National
Commission for Sustainable Development b’kollaborazzjoni malMinisteru g˙al G˙awdex u ç-Çentru ta’ l-Universita’ ta’
Malta f’G˙awdex. Lukanda Ta’ Çenç, Sannat. 29 ta’ Novembru
2004.
The Hon Giovanna Debono delivering
her speech during the conference
L-iskop ta’ l-iWvilupp sostenibbli hu li titjieb ilkwalita‘ tal-˙ajja tag˙na u tal-©enerazzjonijiet
li g˙ad iridu ji©u. Dan japplika g˙ad-dinja,
g˙all-Ewropa, g˙al Malta u g˙al G˙awdex.
Irridu niftakru li Wvilupp mhux sostenibbli
ifisser Wvilupp g˙al Wmien qasir, li, millesperjenza li g˙andna, ma jkun Wvilupp xejn.
u t-turiWmu. Dawn iW-Wew© industriji
g˙andhom it-tnejn konnessjoni qawwija ma’ lambjent. Ûvilupp sostenibbli g˙alhekk huwa
mportanti ˙afna, speçjalment f’dak li g˙andu
x’jaqsam mal-˙arsien ta’ l-ambjent.
Ûvilupp sostenibbli g˙andu dimensjonijiet
ambjentali, soçjali u ekonomii. Huwa mibni
fuq valuri msejsa fuq l-etika u rresponsabbilita’. Dan g˙aliex i˙ares l-interessi
ta’ ©enerazzjonijiet futuri, jie˙u in
konsiderazzjoni l-gruppi kollha tas-soçjeta u
jikkunsidra l-˙ajja b’mod s˙i˙ u komprensiv.
L-istrate©ija g˙all-iWvilupp sostenibbli
g˙andha l-iskop li tag˙ti direzzjoni dwar
x’g˙andu jsir fl-oqsma soçjali, ambjentali u
ekonomiçi biex ikun Wgurat li l-iWvilupp talpajjiW ma jtellifx il-kwalita’ tal-˙ajja tag˙na u
ta’ dawk li se ji©u warajna.
G˙awdex
Il-qafas ewlieni ta’ l-istrate©ija g˙andu jkun
marbut ma’ pjan li qablu mieg˙u l-pajjiWi kollha
tad-dinja, mag˙ruf b˙ala ‘A©enda 21’.
G˙awdex huwa gWira Wg˙ira. G˙alkemm iddensita’ tal-popolazzjoni hija baxxa meta
mqabbla ma’ dik ta’ Malta, xorta wa˙da
f ’G˙awdex id-densita’ hija g˙olja meta
mqabbla ma’ gWejjer u pajjiWi o˙rajn filMediterran u fid-dinja. G˙alhekk il-pressjoni
fuq l-ambjent hija g˙olja.
Direzzjoni
Strate©ija g˙all-iWvilupp sostenibbli titlob
parteçipazzjoni minn kull wie˙ed u wa˙da
minnha, g˙aliex kull˙add irid i©orr irresponsabbilta’ sabiex titjieb il-kwalita’ tal-˙ajja
u tonqos il-pressjoni fuq l-ambjent li ng˙ixu fih.
L-Ambjent
Barra minn hekk, hemm ukoll diffikultaijiet
ekonomiçi. Min˙abba l-problemi ta’ insularita
doppa, f’G˙awdex g˙andna problemi ta’
kompetittivita’. Dan kemm f’dak li jirrigwarda
l-manifattura kif ukoll it-turiWmu. Ma dan
inWidu l-arran©amenti amministrattivi li xi
kultant jag˙mluha aktar diffiçli biex produtturi
G˙awdxin jikkompetu on a level playing field
ma’ dawk Maltin.
G˙awdex jiddependi ˙afna fuq l-agrikoltura
21
Biex l-iWvilupp ikun sostenibbli, irid jirrispetta
l-kwalita’ ta’ l-ambjent li ng˙ixu fih. Ma
nistg˙ux insej˙u bidliet ambjentali b˙ala
progress, jekk min˙abba fihom il-kwalita’ tal˙ajja tmur lura.
Je˙tie© li n˙arsu l-kwalita‘ ta’ l-ambjent tag˙na,
mhux g˙alina biss, iWda g˙all-istess sistemi
ekolo©içi u naturali li fuqhom tiddependi l˙ajja fuq wiçç din il-pjaneta. Ix-xibka tal-˙lejjaq
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
hi minsu©a b’tali mod li kull impatt u kull
dannu jista’ jinfirex fuq il-˙olqien kollha.
F’G˙awdex g˙andna ambjent naturali u
storiku ta’ l-og˙la valur u kwalita’. L-uWu
sostenibbli ta’ dan l-ambjent huwa essenzjali
mhux biss g˙all-kwalita’ tal-˙ajja ta’ lG˙awdxin iWda wkoll biex in©ibu ‘l quddiem
l-attivita’ ekonomika mibnija fuq ilkaratteristiçi distinti ta’ dan l-ambjent uniku.
G˙alhekk irridu noqg˙odu attenti ˙afna, fost
l-o˙rajn, g˙aW-Wamma u l-immani©©jar tajjeb
ta’ dan l-ambjent. Irridu nimmani©©jaw sewwa
l-pressjonijiet li hemm g˙all-uWu ta’ dan lambjent, ta’ dan il-wirt naturali u storiku li
g˙andna.
L-Ekonomija
Óafna mill-attivita‘ ekonomika f’G˙awdex, laktar fis-setturi tal-biedja, tal-kostruzzjoni u
tat-turiWmu, iwasslu g˙al degradazzjoni ta’ lambjent. Dan iwassal sabiex fl-a˙˙ar milla˙˙ar ikun ipperikolat l-istess Wvilupp
ekonomiku. Wvilupp sostenibbli jitlob li
jitnaqqsu mpatti negattivi b˙al dawn.
Biex l-ekonomija ta’ pajjiWna tkun sostenibbli
u jonqsu l-impatti negattivi, je˙tie© li jkun
hemm titjib fl-effiçjenza. B’hekk isir uWu a˙jar
mir-riWorsi naturali, speçjalment dawk li ma
ji©©eddux. Je˙tie© ukoll li jsir aktar investiment
f’teknolo©ija nadifa u li jintuWaw sorsi ta’
ener©ija li jistg˙u ji©©eddu.
Ótie©a o˙ra hi li ma jsirx ˙ela fil-konsum,
sabiex ikun hemm bilanç bejn il-provvista u ddomanda g˙ar-riWorsi tal-pajjiW.
Barra minn hekk, je˙tie© ukoll li jonqos ilkonsum ta’ prodotti li j˙allu mpatt negattiv fuq
l-ambjent, b˙alma huma o©©etti tal-plastik u
o©©etti tossiçi.
Is-Soçjeta’
Ûvilupp sostenibbli huwa mibni fuq l-ekwita’
– ji©ifieri li jinqerdu l-faqar u l-inugwaljanzi
soçjali. Je˙tie© li ma nwarrbu lill-ebda grupp
sabiex ku˙add i˙oss li g˙andu kontribut
x’jag˙ti u biex ikun hemm aççessibilta’ ta’
riWorsi u opportunitajiet g˙al kul˙add. Je˙tie©
ukoll li jkun hemm ekwita’ bejn il©enerazzjonijiet, ji©ifieri li dak li jsir fil-preWent
ma jaffettwax ˙aWin il-kwalita’ tal-˙ajja ta’
dawk li se ji©u warajna.
Ûvilupp sostenibbli huwa wkoll mibni fuq ledukazzjoni. Din twassal biex jiWdied lg˙arfien tal-benefiççji ta’ l-iWvilupp sostenibbli
u tiWgura li jkollna l-opportunita’ li niksbu ttag˙rif, il-˙iliet u l-valuri me˙tie©a. Hekk
inkunu nistg˙u nie˙du sehem b’mod attiv u
responsabbli f ’deçiWjonijiet li g˙andhom
impatt fuq il-kwalita’ ta’ ˙ajja tal©enerazzjonijiet preWenti u dawk futuri.
Il-parteçipazzjoni twassal biex iç-çittadini
jkollhom sehem attiv fid-deçiWjonijiet li
jolqtuhom. Barra li din twassal biex tiWdied ilpossibilita’ li jintla˙aq ftehim dwar x’g˙andu
jsir, twassal ukoll biex iç-çittadini j˙ossu li
g˙andhom rwol importanti fl-iWvilupp talpajjiW, u li mhux qeg˙din sempliçiment ikunu
infurmati b’dak li jkun di©a’ deçiW. Lopportunijiet ta’ parteçipazzjoni g˙andhom
ikunu offruti sa mill-ewwel faWijiet tat-tfassil
ta’ strate©ija g˙all-iWvilupp sostenibbli.
Il-Pjan g˙al G˙awdex
It-titjib fil-kwalita’ tal-˙ajja f’G˙awdex, hija,
nistg˙u ng˙idu, il-prinçipju li fuqu l-Ministeru
g˙al G˙awdex ifassal u jwettaq l-pro©etti u lpjanijiet tal-Gvern g˙al G˙awdex. G˙alina, ilprijoritajiet huma ddettati mill-aspetti
ambjentali, soçjali u ekonomiçi. Meta ng˙idu
titjib fil-kwalita’ tal-˙ajja, a˙na nifhmu, titjib filkwalita’ tal-˙ajja tal-faxex kollha tas-soçjeta’
tag˙na. Nifhmu titjib fil-kwalita’ tal-˙ajja talfamilji, tal-˙addiema, ta’ l-ir©iel u tan-nisa, ta’
l-anzjani, ta’ l-istudenti, taW-Wg˙aWag˙. Nifhmu
wkoll kwalita’ ta’ ˙ajja g˙olja li tattira turisti
f’G˙awdex u speçjalment turisti ta’ kwalita’.
Nifhmu fuq kollox kwalita’ tal-˙ajja og˙la milli
kellna fil-passat sabiex in˙allu din il-gWira
tag˙na a˙jar milli sibniha g˙all-benefiççju ta’
dawk li ser ji©u warajna.
B’dawn il-˙sibijiet a˙na nag˙Wlu liema pro©etti
ser ninvestu fihom. Nag˙Wlu li niffukaw lener©ija u r-riWorsi tag˙na f’dawk is-setturi li
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
22
fihom g˙andna vanta©©i jew tradizzjoni ta’
suççess. Fuq kollox nag˙Wlu – b’konsultazzjoni
wiesa’ u diskussjonijiet li permezz tag˙hom ilpartijiet kollha jkunu konvinti – li l-pro©ett in
kwestjoni huwa dak li rridu u li verament
g˙andna bWonn sabiex intejbu l-livell ta’
g˙ixien tag˙na lkoll f’G˙awdex.
jibda jiddepoWita skart separat. Din l-inizjattiva
hija fost l-ewwel passi biex nibdew inda˙˙lu
kultura ©dida dwar il-mod kif g˙andna
niddisponu mill-iskart. B˙alissa g˙addej
xog˙ol relatat mat-twaqqif tal-waste transfer
station f’G˙awdex wara li f’Mejju g˙alaqna
g˙al kollox il-miWbla tal-Qortin tax-Xag˙ra.
Partikolarment hawn nixtieq nirreferi g˙al xi
pro©etti u inizjattivi li l-Ministeru qed ja˙dem
fuqhom b˙alissa.
Fix-xhur li ©ejjin jibdew ix-xog˙lijiet relatati
ma’ l-impjant g˙at-trattament tad-drena©© li
ser jassigura li jkollna kosta aktar nadifa milli
hi b˙alissa, u fl-istess ˙in, nipproduçu ilma
tajjeb g˙at-tisqija. Dan l-impjant ser iwassal
biex id-drena©© kollu ta’ G˙awdex ikun trattat
qabel ma jintrema. B’hekk G˙awdex ji©i
konformi kemm mal-le©iWlazzjoni tal-Unjoni
Ewropea fil-qasam tal-kwalita’ tal-ilma, kif
ukoll biex ji©u onorati obligazzjonijiet re©jonali
u internazzjonali fosthom il-konvenzjoni ta’
Barçellona. Dan il-pro©ett ser iwassal biex
titjieb b’mod sostanzjali l-kwalita’ tal-ba˙ar
madwar il-kosta kollha ta’ G˙awdex, g˙all-©id
ta’ l-ambjent naturali u b’mod indirett ukoll,
tat- turizmu f’G˙awdex.
L-ewwel pro©ett li xtaqt insemmi huwa dak
tad-Dwejra. Il-Ministeru g˙al G˙awdex qed
ja˙dem flimkien mal-MEPA u Nature Trust, li
qed imexxu l-pro©ett, biex flimkien no˙olqu
management framework sostenibbli g˙al dan issit tant importanti. Fost l-o˙rajn a˙na rridu li
n-nies kollha tal-lokal li ilhom juWaw din iWWona g˙al skopijiet differenti, jibqg˙u juWawha
fil-futur. L-istess g˙at-turisti li jiffrekwentaw
din li hi wa˙da mill-prime spots t’G˙awdex
b˙ala destinazzjoni turistika. Imma fl-istess ˙in
a˙na rridu li din iW-Wona ntejbuha fuq livelli
differenti – pero’ ntejbuha b’mod sostenibbli,
ming˙ajr ma ©©arrab ebda ˙sara.
Irrid insemmi wkoll l-involviment talMinisteru g˙al G˙awdex fil-management
committee tal-gWira ta’ Kemmuna, fejn ukoll qed
na˙dmu flimkien ma’ partijiet o˙ra, sabiex
inwettqu strate©iji li j˙arsu l-ambjent naturali
ta’ din il-gWira filwaqt li jippermettu li lpotenzjal turistiku tag˙ha jibqa’ ji©i sfruttat filfutur.
Ûvilupp sostenibbli ie˙or li pajjiWna, u allura
anke G˙awdex, jista’ jisfrutta, iWda li ovvjament
je˙tie© anke tip ta’ investiment, huwa dak
marbut mal-patrimonju tag˙na. PajjiWna
g˙andu fost l-isba˙ u l-iktar patrimonju antik
ta’ l-umanita’. L-utilizzazzjoni tal-wirt storiku
tag˙na b˙ala prodott turistiku jista’ ji©©enera
d˙ul ekonomiku li ji©i ndirizzat lura lejn listess patrimonju, permezz ta’ iktar restawr.
Xtaqt ukoll insemmi l-pro©etti marbuta maddepoWitu ta’ l-iskart. Il-Ministeru g˙al
G˙awdex g˙en biex jiffaçilita l-pro©ess biex
ji©u ntrodotti bring-in sites f’diversi lokalitajiet
f’G˙awdex, li g˙amluha possibbli li l-pubbliku
23
Qieg˙din na˙dmu wkoll biex infasslu pjan
g˙all-Afforestazzjoni f’G˙awdex u b’hekk
intejbu l-ambjent rurali u ninkora©ixxu l-uWu
ta’ art abbandunata. Marbuta ma’ dan, nista’
nsemmi wkoll il-˙addiema li g˙andu lMinisteru g˙al G˙awdex li huma m˙arr©a fisseng˙a tal-bini tal-˙itan tas-sejjieg˙, li jag˙mlu
xog˙lijiet tant siewja ta’ manutenzjoni madwar
G˙awdex.
Qed insemmi dan biex nag˙ti eWempju ta’ kif
fil-prattika a˙na qieg˙din nikkontribwixxu u
niWguraw li kull pass ‘il-quddiem li jag˙mel
G˙awdex ikun verament pass li jassigura
kwalita’ ta’ ˙ajja a˙jar g˙alina lkoll illum, u
g˙all-©enerazzjonijiet futuri.
Nikkonkludi billi nesprimi l-awgurju tieg˙i li
permezz ta’ din il-konferenza jo˙or©u iktar
ideat ta’ kif nistg˙u nkomplu niWguraw
Wvilupp sostenibbli f’G˙awdex. B’hekk inkunu
qed niWguraw Wvilupp soçjali u ekonomiku li,
mhux talli ma jeqridx l-ambjent, iWda jkun
Wvilupp li j˙ares u sa˙ansitra jtejjeb l-ambjent
ta’ madwarna.
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
University Gozo Centre Students make their
Way into the Public Service
PAT CURMI*
In the autumn of 1999, the University of Malta
Gozo Centre offered a Bachelor of Commerce
course majoring in Economics and Management.
As I sat down for the first lecture I was very
nervous. It had been close to 10 years since I had
attended university and I knew none of the other
students. I had originally began my studies in
New York and it had always been one of my
regrets that I did not complete my studies. So I
leaped at this opportunity to be able to complete
my degree with the convenience of lectures in
Gozo.
We were a group of twenty who initially began
the course. By the time finals came around the
number had dropped down to nine. The
pressures of work and home life had overcome
the others. The remaining nine persisted against
many trials and tribulations – including one year
of non stop lectures including the summer months
and travelling to Malta on Saturdays for lectures
in one semester when our lecturer was unable to
travel to Gozo.
Some of the participants who successfully completed the
B.Com course at the University Gozo Centre.
We were successful in our final exams with 3
obtaining second upper class and the rest second
lower. Initially, I had no aspirations beyond
obtaining my degree, but fate had other plans. In
August 2002 an advert in the newspaper grabbed
my attention. The Government was recruiting
Management Graduates for the position of
Principals within the Public Sector. Although I
was employed at the time, I applied. Unbeknownst
*
Pat Curmi is currently employed with the Ministry for Justice
& Home Affairs in the Policy Development Directorate. to me so did several of my former classmates.
Interviews were set for later that year. This was a
new method of recruitment for the Government.
The aim was to recruit and train a small group of
promising individuals with good academic results
in areas which would enable them to take up a
management roles in the Public Service.
Of the twenty chosen, four were Gozitans and 3
of those were graduates of the Gozo Centre
Bachelor of Commerce course. Initially we had a
one week Induction Course at the Staff
Development Office within the Office of the Prime
Minister. There, the speakers were mostly senior
Public Officers, who discussed work practices and
procedures in the varying sectors they
represented. It also included a walking tour of
Valletta showing it as a city built as a seat of
Government and culminated with an outdoor
teambuilding exercise. We, then, underwent an 8
month training period where we were
individually paired with mentors – either a
Permanent Secretary or a Director for 4 months
and were assigned a project. The other half of the
mentorship was spent at the Management
Efficiency Unit (MEU) within the Office of the
Prime Minister, where along with our MEU
mentor, we worked with other staff and
consultants on projects aimed at various
ministries. The work was enlightening and
rewarding. In the course of 8 months I worked
on 4 different projects aimed at 4 different
ministries. At the end of our mentorship period,
we all met up again to discuss our experiences
and evaluate the mentorship.
In the course of the year, further University Gozo
Centre graduates made their way into the Public
Sector in middle management positions such as
Principals, Economic Officers and Policy Officers,
not to mention those who were promoted due to
their academic achievements.
In all, University Gozo Centre has contributed 6
Principals, 2 Economic Officers, and 1 Policy Officer
from 2003 to date, thanks to the courses offered in
Gozo. The University Gozo Centre has definitely
made a contribution to the Public Service!
_
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
24
Gozitan artist at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity
JOSEPH CALLEJA*
Between the 1 October and the 7 November 2004,
the Main Hall of the St James Cavalier Centre for
Creativity in Valletta was the venue for an
exhibition of paintings entitled “Manifesting the
Soul”. This was the third personal exhibition of
paintings put up by young Gozitan artist Mark
Sagona (b.1976), and was inaugurated by the Prime
Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi.
artist and art critic Dr Joseph Paul Cassar. In
Buhagiar’s words: “…this is an emotionally
charged exhibition that reflects the changing moods
of a highly sensitive young man in which colour is
perceptively manipulated to express the joys and
fears that haunt his impressionable mind”. Despite
the rather dark passages in some works, hope
abounds in the use of light, at times distant and at
times exploding against the picture surface. As Dr
Cassar has rightly commented: “Light is very
predominant, manifested in different beams and
crevices. These works also speak of Mark Sagona’s
soul searching as he discovers his spiritual self
through his art”.
The exhibition may be still viewed online on the
artist’s website www.marksagona.com.
The exhibition brought together around forty
abstract works produced between 2003 and 2004.
In these creations, which mark a new chapter in
Sagona’s artistic development, there is a further
exploration of the possibilities analysed in his earlier
paintings. The usual subjects of figures, objects and
landscapes have now been substituted with more
conceptual themes so that a purer and more forceful
artistic expression is achieved. The canvases are
the fruit of the artist’s thought and meditation on
different aspects of life, with its positive and
negative aspects, and all those forces which model
human existence – such as the search for God and
the infinite, death and destiny, fortune, passion,
sacrifice and the struggle of life. Therefore, the
paintings put a particular emphasis on the spiritual
and are conditioned by the artist’s personal
experiences. The meditative aspect of the collection
is also reflected in the technique which exploits the
use of mixed media, calculated layers of pigment,
rich textures and forceful contrasts.
The Triumph of Death, mixed media on canvas, 70 x
100cm, 2004
The lavish full-colour exhibition catalogue,
published for this event, contains a foreword by
Professor Mario Buhagiar, Head of the Art
Programme within the Faculty of Art of the
University of Malta, and a short critical note by
*
Joseph Calleja is the Administrator of the University
of Malta Gozo Centre
25
Energy, mixed media on canvas, 100 x 70 cm, 2004
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
Projects submitted by Certificate in Lace Studies Students
Between October 2003 and June 2004 the University of Malta offered for the first time a Certificate
course in Lace Studies at the University Gozo Centre. At the end of the course, students were
requested to submit a project on a topic related to lace making. The following is a short description
of three of the projects submitted.
Parasol in Maltese Lace
MARY LOUISE BAJADA
Parasols became very fashionable during the
Victorian era. It is quite common to come across
paintings and lithographs of Victorian ladies
carrying the parasol. It even attracted Claude
Monet’s attention - he used it in one of his
paintings. However, ladies with parasols are
included in various scenes in many other
masterpieces.
During the Victorian period, the parasol was
very much in use not only in England but also
in Malta, some of which were made with
Maltese lace. One particular instance is a
Maltese lace parasol which was done in Gozo
and presented by the Maltese people to Queen
Mary as a wedding gift. And that is not the
only instance of a documented Maltese lace
parasol. In Marquis Nicholas de Piro lace
collection at Casa Rocca Piccola in Valletta, one
may find some of the finest Maltese lace
parasols.
My project for the Certificate in Lace Studies
course (2003-2004), was based on the Victorian
lady with a Maltese lace parasol. A small
porcelain doll dressed in a Victorian costume
holds a reproduction of a miniature Maltese lace
parasol. The dress is decorated with my design
of a border of tallies (moski) and edges (puntina)
worked in silk bobbin lace. Naturally, the main
feature is the parasol worked with very fine silk
thread. I designed the pattern on an eightpointed star the point de Paris ground (punt talballa) - a distinct Maltese lace characteristic. The
Victorian Lady with a Maltese lace parasol
project was very time consuming but rewarded
with satisfying results.
Festuni
MONICA BONNICI
The circular motifs or as they are better know
in Maltese ‘Festuni’ were developed in the early
19th century by a Gozitan priest, Dun Salv
Bondi. Towards the end of the same century
Dun Guzepp Diacono worked hard to create
modern designs on these motifs. There are
many different types of these ‘festuni’ but the
most common are the Star, the Flower, the
Maltese Cross, the Sun, the Crescent Moon, the
Palm, the George Cross, the Cluster of Leaf and
a variation of Flower motifs.
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
26
In the 19th and 20th century, Gozitan ladies
produced extremely beautiful masterpieces
especially church vestments with these motifs.
This inspired me to create my project for the
Certificate in Lace Studies course. I selected four
types of ‘festuni’ and made a lace insertion for a
small curtain to cover a cupboard’s glass pane.
I used linen cloth and linen thread as linen is a
very durable type of material.
characterised as ‘tal-Balla’. The technical
drawing of the ‘Balla’ stitch, its technique
applied in Maltese lace and its significance, are
also discussed and illustrated.
Linen is one of the earliest products known to
mankind. It was widely used by the Egyptians
and other civilizations in later periods. Linen
is made from a plant know as flux and its main
areas of cultivation are Russia, Belgium, France
and the Netherlands. There is also proof that
flux was cultivated and linen was produced in
the Maltese Islands. In fact, in the valley
between Sannat and Xewkija in Gozo there are
baths, which are believed, were used for the
manufacture of linen.
‘Balla’ Lace and the Armorial Altar
Lace Insertion at Casa Rocca
Piccola, Valletta.
ANNA MARIA GATT
Maltese ‘Balla’ lace incorporating liturgical
symbols, feature predominantly in church
vestments such as in lace trimming for altars.
Many lace workers worked and contributed
lace for ecclesiastical purposes. My research
features the historic and cultural events leading
to the introduction of the ‘Balla’ lace in the
Maltese Islands and how Church lace became
Cathedrals, churches and museums have
extensive collections of altarpieces. One such
altar lace edging design depicting an armorial
motif is in the private collection of Marquis
Nicholas de Piro at Casa Rocca Piccola, Valletta.
The history, origin, design and commissioning
of this particular lace work are also discussed
in this research.
The reproduction of a section of the original
pattern, the use of old thread and technical
drawing of the boll stitch and other techniques
used in Maltese lace explaining the sequence
of work, are all included in this project.
(Continued from page 16)
Acknowledgments
References
I would like to thank Dr. Frank Galea
(Veterinary Surgeon, Gozo Civil Abattoir) and
the Gozitan farmers for their co-operation and
help. Once more, my gratitude goes to my
former tutor Dr. P. Cuschieri for his assistance
and guidance, especially in giving me
permission to use the facilities of the
bacteriology laboratory.
Popoff MY, Le Minor L. (1997). Antigenic Formulas
th
of the Salmonella serovars, ( 7 Revision). WHO
Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research
on Salmonella. Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
27
Vella L. (1994). Salmonella Excretion in Gozitan
Bovines. University of Malta, Malta.
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
Extra Curricular Activities at the University
Gozo Centre - 2004
JOSEPH CALLEJA*
Between 1 and 3 March the University Gozo
Centre hosted an International Workshop
organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat
and the University of Malta. The workshop,
which focused on economic vulnerability and
resilience building of small states, was
inaugurated by H.E. Jagdish Koonjul, the
Chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States
(AOSIS) which represents forty states in the
United Nations. The participants of the
workshop consisted of twenty-six experts
from all Commonwealth regions. These
included academics, practitioners, policy
makers, and representatives of international
and regional organisations.
Azzopardi, coordinator of the Lace Making
Programme, delivered a talk about the
aspirations of those who seek to attend lace
courses at this centre. She also explained how
these courses held on a scientific level would
raise the level of Maltese lace making to the
same footing as the big European lace making
countries, such as Belgium, Holland, France,
Italy and Spain. In his talk the Hon. Anton
Tabone, praised the initiative taken by the
University of Malta to approve such a matter
as Maltese lace to be studied as an academic
subject. Mons. Lawrence Sciberras delivered
an interesting talk about lace in church
vestments.
The inaugural session of the International Workshop
The event also included exhibitions of Lace
Programme projects and textile crafts. Other
exhibitions were mounted by the
International Organisation of Needle and
Bobbin Lace (OIDFA) and by the Malta Lace
Guild. There were also demonstrations of
pillow covering, card weaving, cord making
by ATC and information about short courses
in different aspects of Maltese Lace. A number
of stands were mounted by the Koperattiva
G˙awdxija tal-Bizzilla u Artigjanat with lace
making materials.
On 18 April 2004, the Lace Making
Programme at the University Gozo Centre
organized the annual event “Gozo Lace Day”
for the eighth consecutive year. The event,
held at the University Gozo Centre premises,
consisted of a number of exhibitions and
demonstrations of Maltese lace and a number
of talks on matters related to lace making.
The event was introduced by Professor
Maurice Cauchi, member on the Board of the
University Gozo Centre. Ms Consiglia
Hon. Anton Tabone awards a certificate to a participant
who successfully completed a course in Lace Making.
*Joseph Calleja is the Administrator of the University of Malta
Gozo Centre
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
28
Just before the event, Ken Wroe, a British
resident in St. Paul’s Bay walked in with a
biscuit tin containing some forty Maltese
bobbins and an accompanying letter. They were
sent by Mabel Duxbury from Leeds Yorkshire,
UK, now in her eighties and is unable to travel
over because of her illness. Daughter of
Commissioner for SW Leeds, Mabel had trained
as a Domestic Science teacher with emphasis
towards needlework and craft. At the end of
World War II one of her relatives ended up in
Malta, and he kindly purchased for her “a ‘set’
of lace bobbins and a pillow made from the
bottom of a trousers’ leg, stuffed with straw and
stitched at the top and bottom,” as she described
in her letter. Mabel never got to use the bobbins
and she is delighted to find a safe harbour back
home where they belong after safe moving
custody in England, hoping some Maltese
fingers will again find pleasure in using them.
The Lace Making Programme extends warm
thanksgiving feelings to Mabel Duxbury, and
to Ken Wroe who was instrumental in carrying
the bobbins back home.
participants approved a final statement with
recommendations as to how small states can
maximise their competitiveness potential. The
workshop was convened by Professor Lino
Briguglio who is also one of the editors of the
book which have been launched during the
workshop entitled ‘Competitiveness Strategies
for Small States’.
A session of the International Workshop “Competitiveness
in Small States”
On 20th August 2004 the Centre held its annual
summer activity entitled ‘An Evening with
Walter Micallef u l-Hbieb’. The activity was
organised by the University Gozo Centre with
the participation of Mr Walter Micallef (Guitar
& Vocals), Paul Camilleri (Harmonica), Renzo
Spiteri (Percussion), Eric Wadge (Bass), Jes
Psaila (Acoustic Guitar), Albert Grazia
(Accordion) and coordinated by Mr Steve Borg.
The concert was received with great enthusiasm
by the big audience present. Among the guests
were the Hon. Giovanna Debono and Professor
Lino Briguglio, Director of the Centre.
Ken Wroe (left) donating the bobbin to Consiglia Azzopardi
(center) and Profs Maurice Cauchi (right)
An Expert’s Workshop on Competitiveness
Strategies of Small States was held at the
University Gozo Centre between 14 and 17 July
2004. It was inaugurated by Minister Censu
Galea
whose
portfolio
includes
competitiveness. He said that Malta like other
small states is very heavily dependent on
imports and exports and therefore its
competitiveness is of paramount importance.
The workshop was attended by senior officials
and experts from different Commonwealth
countries. At the end of the workshop the
29
Walter Micallef flanked with other members of his group,
performing live one of his songs during “An Evening
with Walter Micallef u l-Hbieb” held at the University
Gozo Centre on 20th August 2004.
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
On 22 November 2004, nine students were
awarded with a Diploma in Commerce after
having successfully completed the course
offered at the University Gozo Centre between
October 2002 and July 2004. The graduation
ceremony was held at the University of Malta.
In October 2004 the University of Malta
through a Sixth Framework Project called
“Twister” offered for the first time a Diploma
in IT course simultaneously in Malta and in
Gozo. The course is run by the Board of Studies
for IT and students can attend classes
simultaneously at the Department of
Communications and Computer Engineering
at the Tal-Qroqq campus and at the University
Gozo Centre in Xewkija. The system is based
on the virtual classroom concept where one
lecturer in one location will conduct lectures
for two classes using IP technology. The
equipment used is basically that of video
conferencing adapted for interactive
simultaneous classes where the students can
ask questions and interact with the lecturer and
with each other, in both locations at the same
time. The bandwidth is being obtained via a
new satellite connection provided from
EUTELSAT, one of the consortium partners.
The launching of the system took place on
Wednesday 27 October at the two sites being
used for the course namely the Tal-Qroqq
Campus (Engineering Building) and the
University Gozo Centre. Present for the
occasion were Prof. Roger Ellul Micallef,
University Rector, the Hon. Giovanna Debono,
Minister for Gozo, Prof Lino Briguglio, director
of the University Gozo Centre, Dr Hector
Fenech, manager at EUTELSAT, and Prof. Paul
Micallef, Dean of Engineering.
Prof. Roger Ellul Micallef said that this is a
unique opportunity for the University of Malta
and he was sure that this system will open new
prospects in the future. He thanked Prof. Paul
Micallef and Prof Lino Briguglio for their work
in making this idea a reality.
The Minister for Gozo, Hon. Giovanna
Debono, who was also present for the occasion,
stated that she is very happy that Gozo has
become more connected to the University. She
thanked the University for the invaluable
support it was giving to Gozitan society.
Inaugaration of the IT Distance Learning Project. From
Left: Dr Hector Fenech, manager at EUTELSAT, Professor
Lino Briguglio, Director University Gozo Centre, Hon
Giovanna Debono, Minister for Gozo and Professor Paul
Micallef, coordinator of the project.
On 11 December, the ‘Award of Certificates’
event was held at the University Gozo Centre.
The Hon. Giovanna Debono, distributed
certificates to 150 candidates who were eligible
after they had followed courses at the
University Gozo Centre during 2004.
Minister Debono, commenting on the activities
of the Gozo Centre, said that the partnership
between the Ministry for Gozo and the
University Gozo Centre is bearing fruit. She
said that the large number of participants
attending courses at the University Gozo
Centre is a clear evidence that the Centre is
making a very important contribution to
Gozitan society. In his speech, Professor Lino
Briguglio, who presided over the event, said
that he was very pleased that so many students
are seeing the need for further training and
attending the courses offered by the Centre.
This already shows that the Centre is filling a
very important void. He thanked the Minister
for Gozo and the University authorities for
their continuous support of the Centre.
Students who attended short courses in Gozo during the
“Award of Certificate” event.
THE GOZO OBSERVER (No.12) - March 2005
30